The Senate is set to launch an investigation into the proliferation of social media pages allegedly spreading pro-China propaganda and disinformation designed to polarize the Filipino public.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros announced the move on Monday, Feb. 2, following what she described as a “firestorm” of digital activity aimed at undermining Philippine interests and silencing local officials.
“We see a growing number of social media pages relentlessly amplifying Chinese government propaganda. All of these are designed to divide us as Filipinos,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
The senator highlighted a surge in coordinated narratives that coincide with heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
She expressed concern that foreign entities are using digital platforms to bypass traditional diplomatic channels and directly influence domestic public opinion.
The planned probe follows recent friction between the Philippine Senate and the Chinese Embassy in Manila.
In late January, Hontiveros and several colleagues condemned the embassy for social media posts that allegedly “insulted” and “belittled” Filipino lawmakers who had been vocal about maritime sovereignty.
Hontiveros noted that the investigation will seek to identify the “megaphones” behind these campaigns and determine if any local actors are being funded to amplify foreign interests.
“It is time for us to find out who is profiting and who is acting as China’s megaphone here in the Philippines,” she said. “If they are willing to work against their own country, that is no longer just a strategy—that is a betrayal.”
The inquiry is expected to involve the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC) to verify the origins of the suspicious digital activity.
Malacañang previously stated that it is also monitoring reports of foreign influence operations, emphasizing that the government remains vigilant against any attempts to manipulate national discourse.